Teens Create A Safe Driving App
Donation protected
Five high school girls entered an international competition called Technovation with an idea to solve a community problem using a mobile app. The Via team created Via, a safe driving app that battles texting while driving. The team placed second world wide in the health category and has advanced to semi-finals in the MN Cup, a state-wide competition held in the state of Minnesota.
Via prevents the user from getting distracted by their phone while they are driving. The app also has the ability to notify any preset contacts (since the app is targeted toward teens, the preset contacts are typically parents) when the user has started driving, reached their destination, etc. The team wants to be able to add more features such as an OBD II connection between the app and the car itself (so that the app can recieve info about speeding, and upkeep needed for the car, and crash detection), incorporate gamification within the app to encourage teens to drive safer, and more! The money raised will go to creating more features to put on the app (at the moment, the app is still in its MVP form) and to create an iOS version. For more information about the app and its features, visit their website: via-drive.com. The money raised will also help tremendously with marketing the app and getting proffesional help.
The team will benefit highly from the funds. It consists of five teenagers who are going to be seniors in high school and freshman in college. Because money is going to be tight, the success of their app relies on any money raised. The app has recieved a lot of praise already, and the money would help take the app to the next level.
The girls primarily created this app to help save lives. 11 teens die everyday because of texting while driving. By getting this app funded and out in the public's hands, the girls hope to help decrease these numbers.
The Via team needs the funds before the start of the school year. This will determine whether or not they will keep pursuing their idea.
"The money raised will be of tremendous help to us! I personally would be very grateful to anyone who is generous enough to help support this vision. If we are able to reach our goal, not only will we be successful, but it can stand as an example to all minority girls out there that they can pursue their dreams and do something about prevalent problems within their community. Via was created by five girls who all come from very different cultures and countries (even continents!). Help support our vision and help encourage other young girls to do good by supporting our campaign. It would mean the world!"
-Keerthi Manikonda
CTO of Via
Via prevents the user from getting distracted by their phone while they are driving. The app also has the ability to notify any preset contacts (since the app is targeted toward teens, the preset contacts are typically parents) when the user has started driving, reached their destination, etc. The team wants to be able to add more features such as an OBD II connection between the app and the car itself (so that the app can recieve info about speeding, and upkeep needed for the car, and crash detection), incorporate gamification within the app to encourage teens to drive safer, and more! The money raised will go to creating more features to put on the app (at the moment, the app is still in its MVP form) and to create an iOS version. For more information about the app and its features, visit their website: via-drive.com. The money raised will also help tremendously with marketing the app and getting proffesional help.
The team will benefit highly from the funds. It consists of five teenagers who are going to be seniors in high school and freshman in college. Because money is going to be tight, the success of their app relies on any money raised. The app has recieved a lot of praise already, and the money would help take the app to the next level.
The girls primarily created this app to help save lives. 11 teens die everyday because of texting while driving. By getting this app funded and out in the public's hands, the girls hope to help decrease these numbers.
The Via team needs the funds before the start of the school year. This will determine whether or not they will keep pursuing their idea.
"The money raised will be of tremendous help to us! I personally would be very grateful to anyone who is generous enough to help support this vision. If we are able to reach our goal, not only will we be successful, but it can stand as an example to all minority girls out there that they can pursue their dreams and do something about prevalent problems within their community. Via was created by five girls who all come from very different cultures and countries (even continents!). Help support our vision and help encourage other young girls to do good by supporting our campaign. It would mean the world!"
-Keerthi Manikonda
CTO of Via
Organizer and beneficiary
Keerthi Manikonda
Organizer
Rochester, MN
Sophia Fulton
Beneficiary
